-
Careers • News • Contact us •
- Login
- Français
Creating new
knowledge
Exploring new avenues to develop tomorrow’s medical knowledge through an approach that integrates basic and clinical research
Our research units are led by principal investigators who collaborate in a spirit of collegiality and with the vision of bridging the gap between research and patients. They train the next generation of scientists and are independent and creative minds who work tirelessly to improve health.
Current research
"We want to understand the early causes of diabetes"
Jennifer Estall, research director
Molecular Mechanisms of Diabetes
The research unit focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of diabetes at the molecular level. This metabolic disease afflicts millions of people worldwide, yet we still do not know the underlying cause. Diabetes affects many organ systems, including pancreas, liver, muscle, fat, bone, and brain, each playing a distinct role in disease etiology.
Genetics and environmental factors such as poor eating habits, low physical activity, and stress combine to create the ideal setting for diabetes to develop and cause permanent damage (vascular and heart disease). Insulin-producing cells of the pancreas become exhausted and die; the liver produces excess sugar; and, fat is stored in inappropriate locations (i.e. muscle, liver). We also know that metabolic abnormalities in one tissue often impact the health of another (organ cross-talk), adding layers of complexity.
In Jennifer Estall's laboratory, members of the team strive to understand the molecular events in each tissue that trigger disease and identify new ways to prevent, diagnose, or reverse the metabolic abnormalities associated with insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction / death.
Discover the lab's website : diabetesresearch.ca
| Team |
|
| Affiliations |
Other affiliations
|
| Degrees and experience |
|
Pathways to metabolic disease
Metabolic Flexibility
Not being able to adapt to metabolic challenges (like changing diets, exercise, or famine) is often the first step toward metabolic disease. We want to understand why some people can rapidly deal with these challenges and why some people have more difficulty. We consider many factors that work together to influence these processes, including genetics, environment, diet, age and sex.
Modeling Metabolic Disease
Our goal is to use the best models possible to understand human metabolic disease. Whether we start from the cell or the human, we are ultimately interested in revealing the underlying causes of disease initiation and progression. We work with many model systems, including cell lines, animals, human cohorts and human-derived iPSCs to tackle questions from many angles.
Molecular Biology and Genetics
We are a lab focused on fundamental biological questions. We are very interested in genetic variation and how this affects intracellular, as well as inter-organ, signaling. All our projects involve components of cell biology, whole body physiology, and human disease. Our goal is to understand how the multiple organ systems of the body influence each other to maintain metabolic balance.
Pathways to metabolic disease
Metabolic Flexibility
Not being able to adapt to metabolic challenges (like changing diets, exercise, or famine) is often the first step toward metabolic disease. We want to understand why some people can rapidly deal with these challenges and why some people have more difficulty. We consider many factors that work together to influence these processes, including genetics, environment, diet, age and sex.
Modeling Metabolic Disease
Our goal is to use the best models possible to understand human metabolic disease. Whether we start from the cell or the human, we are ultimately interested in revealing the underlying causes of disease initiation and progression. We work with many model systems, including cell lines, animals, human cohorts and human-derived iPSCs to tackle questions from many angles.
Molecular Biology and Genetics
We are a lab focused on fundamental, biological questions. We are very interested in genetic variation and how this affects intracellular, as well as inter-organ, signaling. All our projects involve components of cell biology, whole body physiology, and human disease. Our goal is to understand how the multiple organ systems of the body influence each other to maintain metabolic balance.
Important Discoveries
|
2020 PGC-1α isoforms coordinate to balance hepatic metabolism and apoptosis in inflammatory environments) |
|
2019 PGC1A regulates the IRS1:IRS2 ratio during fasting to influence hepatic metabolism downstream of insulin |
|
2017 Estrogen Signals Through Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Coactivator 1α to Reduce Oxidative Damage Associated With Diet-Induced Fatty Liver Disease |
|
2015 Phenotypic Characterization of MIP-CreERT1Lphi Mice With Transgene-Driven Islet Expression of Human Growth Hormone |
Tools
| Press review |
|
| Press review |
|
| Grants |
Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
| Recognitions and honors |
|
Join the
group Research
Available positions
Ongoing clinical studies
Research Partners
Life in the
laboratory
110, ave des Pins West,
Montréal (Québec) Canada
H2W 1R7
514 987-5500
Partners
Research
Platforms
Student life
Admissions
The Institure
- A word from the president
- Our impact
- Our Legacy
- Governance
- Management Committee
- IRCM Awards
- Annual reports
Events
The Clinic
© Montreal Clinical Research Institute, Année.All rights reserves. | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Web site by Agence Riposte
